Op-Ed: Tech Access is Critical to the Future of Chicagoland’s Black-owned Businesses (Chicago, IL) – In Chicago’s Southland and across the broader metropolitan area, technology isn’t just a convenience—it’s a lifeline, particularly for entrepreneurs, founders, and small business owners.
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As a business leader deeply invested in economic policy and urban advocacy, I’ve seen firsthand how technology can make entrepreneurship more accessible and create real pathways to economic mobility—especially within our Black community, where business ownership is steadily on the rise.
The numbers tell a story of hope and momentum. Nationally, the number of Black-owned businesses has surged 57 percent since 2017. In Illinois, 11 percent of all businesses are Black-owned, and Chicago now ranks second in the country for venture capital-backed startups with at least one Black founder.
Equitable access to technology and innovation has played a critical role in this growth, helping thousands of Black entrepreneurs overcome traditional barriers to entry and thrive in the digital economy.
What does this look like in practice? For the first-generation founder on Chicago’s south side, technology unlocks a nationwide digital consumer marketplace without the traditional overhead of a brick-and-mortar retailer. For the college art student, it means building a no-cost interactive portfolio while selling digital replicas of her work as non-fungible tokens (NFTs) on the blockchain. For aspiring entrepreneurs long excluded from wealth-building ecosystems, it means finally being able to stake their claim in the economy of the future.
Technology doesn’t just help them get started—it helps them stay competitive, grow faster, and serve their communities better. Artificial intelligence, in particular, has become a powerful equalizer for small businesses, allowing solo entrepreneurs to compete with established organizations that have large teams and deep pockets. From writing business proposals and marketing copy to managing customer service and SEO, AI is already helping small firms operate like much larger ones with less capital and fewer resources. This shift is especially important for Black entrepreneurs who have historically been excluded from the networks and infrastructure that legacy businesses rely on.
As innovation accelerates across America and right here in Chicagoland, we have a responsibility to ensure that Black business owners have continued and equitable access to the platforms and tools they rely on to start, run, and grow their businesses, create jobs, and contribute to the local and national economy.
To do that, we must focus on three core priorities: investing in STEM education for our youth, strengthening public-private-academic partnerships, and prioritizing tech policy that supports innovation rather than stifles it.
Preparing students for success in this new era is critical. Small businesses increasingly require workers trained in AI, coding, data analysis, and digital tools to operate efficiently. And beyond small business, Chicagoland is fast becoming a hub for tomorrow’s tech economy—just look at the Illinois Quantum and Microelectronics Park on the South Side, which is expected to bring thousands of jobs to the region. To prepare our youth for these opportunities, the state must prioritize long-term investment in STEM education, particularly in under-resourced schools and communities.
Second, we need to deepen collaboration among the public, private, and academic sectors across Illinois. Universities are natural hubs for innovation and workforce development. Corporate partners bring mentorship, capital, and real-world tools. Government agencies can support both with strategic funding and outreach. When these institutions work together intentionally, we create the conditions for inclusive economic growth in the communities that need it most.
Finally, we need smart, future-focused policy at both the state and federal levels. Some current proposals reflect a one-size-fits-all approach that is inconsistent with innovation and our fast-moving tech ecosystem. Small startups and innovators shouldn’t be forced to navigate a patchwork of complex state regulations or burdensome compliance costs just to deliver tools that help businesses succeed. Regulation should target bad actors while preserving the flexibility and competitiveness that allows innovation to flourish.
Innovation must come with accountability—but it must also come with access. When we strike the right balance, we give Black business owners the tools and freedom they need to build lasting success, and we position Chicagoland to lead in shaping the inclusive, tech-driven economy of tomorrow.
Op-Ed: Tech Access is Critical to the Future of Chicagoland’s Black-owned Businesses
